Chef’s Suggestions: Elderflower cordial

Now we are in July, elderflowers are in full bloom and there is an abundance of these beautiful little flowers around every corner which seem to go to waste every year. If you’re anything like me and my fiancée, you will love drinking elderflower cordial on a hot sunny day, while relaxing in the garden. But why pay for ingredients when it’s literally sitting on your front door step! Follow this simple recipe to enjoy this natural fruit juice and boast to your friends how you make your own cordial.

30 elderflower heads

3 pints boiling water

900g caster sugar

50g citric acid (available from most chemists)

2 unwaxed oranges, sliced

3 unwaxed lemons, sliced

Gently rinse the elderflowers.

Pour the boiling water over the sugar in a very large mixing bowl. Stir well and leave to cool.

Add the citric acid, the orange and lemon slices, and then the flowers.

Leave in a cool place for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.

Strain through some muslin and transfer to sterilised bottles.

This will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 months (as long as the citric acid is in the recipe).

Finish this drink simply by adding some water from the tap and a few cubes of ice. For a special occasion, create your own homemade Bellinis by replacing the water with Prosecco and a splash of apple juice.